65 Atlantic Whitefish STATUS Not Listed Not Listed Endangered Endangered Not Listed Coregonus huntsmani Only one small population in the world, and it is in the Petite Rivière watershed in NS. Considered extirpated from the Tusket River, NS.
Habitat Until recently, Atlantic Whitefish were confined to three small semi- natural, inter-connected lakes (Hebb, Milipsigate and Minamkeak Lakes) as a result of a dam located at the base of the lakes. In 2012, a fishway was constructed at the Hebb Dam in an attempt to restore conditions that © K. BENTHAM, DFO allow access to the ocean. In freshwater, this species is found throughout Species Description Dorsal fin Adipose fin Caudal fin the water column, with adults generally found in cooler, deeper water and T h e A t l a n t i c juveniles in shallower water. Whitefish has an elongated body, a fleshy adipose fin, and a deeply forked caudal © DFO fin (tail). It has a dark green to dark blue back, slightly lighter Pectoral fins Pelvic fins Anal fin sides and a silvery TTHEW RANDALL, BCAF white belly. It has dusky ! © MA Terminal mouth (faces forward at end of © BCAF dorsal and caudal fins snout) and light pelvic and ! More than 90 large lateral line scales Atlantic Whitefish are an anadromous (sea run) fish by nature, which anal fins. It is typically ! Upper and lower jaws fairly equal in length means they are meant to spawn in freshwater then return to the ocean to 20-25 cm long. ! No spots or upper body markings feed, grow and mature. Interesting Points Threats to Survival How You Can Help ! The most primitive of all ! Fish passage barriers impede Prevent the introduction of invasive North American whitefishes access to the sea (several dams species; it is illegal to move fish from (oldest evolutionary link). still exist in the Petite Rivière one body of water to another. Fishing ! Found nowhere else in the watershed). Atlantic Whitefish is prohibited. world! ! Unauthorized introduction of ! Learn to identify this species and if Also known as the Acadian, invasive alien species (Chain accidentally caught, notify Bluenose Sault or Round Whitefish. Pickerel, Smallmouth Bass). ! ! Coastal Action Foundation (BCAF) Old stories say that Tusket Increased acidification of lake to report a sighting. Protect fish River Atlantic Whitefish were water from acid rain and land- habitat on your land by leaving a so plentiful they were taken based activities (forestry, by the truckload and used as agricultural, residential). buffer of trees along the waters edge, ! and avoid the use of chemicals and fertilizer or lobster bait. TTHEW RANDALL, BCAF Accidental catch by ! fertilizers.
Prior to their decline, larger © MA recreational anglers. bodied sea-run individuals could reach lengths of up to 50 cm. ! Atlantic Whitefish raised in
captivity were introduced into ANC, DFO a small lake in Dartmouth (Anderson Lake), however it is currently not known
whether they have established ANC
a population. © KIM ROBICHAUD-LEBL Newly constructed fishway © BCAF
Similar Species © JASON LEBL Never move fish from one lake into another Monitoring migration downstream of the fishway Lake Whitefish: Contacts, Information, Sighting Reports & Stewardship Opportunities Common, smaller and fewer than 90 lateral Contact: DFO Species at Risk 1-866-891-0771or [email protected], and NS Department of scales (on side from head Agriculture and Fisheries [email protected] to tail); subterminal Info: www.sararegistry.gc.ca, www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/species-especes, www.novascotia.ca/fish mouth (faces downwards). © NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT Sighting Reports: 1-866-727-3447 or www.speciesatrisk.ca/sightings OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION Stewardship: BCAF (902) 634-9977 www.coastalaction.org 66